Shifting-sign machine



, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l.L

Jan, 6.

i u. AmuT'naRsoN SHIFTING SIGN MACHINE.

Filed OCI.. 19

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1N ENToR: v MX @LM ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 6. 1925". 1,522,222

J. A NDERSON SHIFTING SIGN MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.'

H\ W BY v ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

PATE

ULRICH ANDERSON, OF IMILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 S. & G. MFG'.CO., OF

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0F WISCONSIN.

SHIFTING-SIGN MACHINE.

Application led October 19, 1921.

To all whom t may cmi-cera.'

Be it known that I, ULRICH ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milvvaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and `State ofIVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inShifting- Sign Machines, of which the following is a specification,reference being had tol the accompanying drawing, forming a partthereof. v

This invention relates to machines or apparatus for automaticallyshifting a series of signs or display holders at intervals one afteranother into and out of view.

The main yobjects of the invention are to adapt such machines to beoperated by either direct or alternating electric current according tolthe nature of the available source of supply in different places; toequalize the load on the machine throughout the circuit of the signs ordisplay holders so that universal motors which are designed foroperation by either direct or alternating current, and the speed ofwhich fluctuates widely under varying loads, may be used; to provide forvariation of the speed of the shifting mechanism and the length ofexposure ,of the signs; to provide for villumination of die exposedsigns when natural light is insuiicient therefor; to facilitatereino-ving and replacing the sions o-r display holders and changing theadvertising or other matter (thereon, and generally to improve theconstruction and operationA of machines of this class.V

It consists in the construction, arrangement andV combination of partsas hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims. i

In the accompanying drawing likecharacters designate the same parts inthe several figures.

Figure 1 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in verticallongitudinal sec-` tion on the line 1 1, of Fig. 3, of a shift.-ing-sign machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a chine en the line2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1; and

Fig. el is a partial horizontal section of the.

machine on the line fl-4, Fig. 2.

The casing, which encloses the signs or display holders and themechanism for shifting them one after another into and out ofviewcomprises end plates 1, Whichmay be vertical cross section of thema- Serial No. 508,889.

made o-f cast metal, -flat bars 2, and angle bars 3 rand 4 connectingthe end plates, and sheet metal to back and front sections 5, 6 and 7,closing the casing at the top and back and at t-he friont oftheforwardly extending base or lower part of the casing below the sightopenings between the cross bars 2 and 3. A

The end plates 1 are formed or provided at and adjacent their frontedges with vertical flanges 9, between which are inserted and held panesor plates 10 and 11, of glass or transparent material, closing the sightopenings through which the stationary and shifting signs are displayed.

Flanged guide pla-tes 13 are fastened to the end plates inside ofthercasing, forming with the inner flanges 9, brakeV shoes or bars 111and 15, and plates 16, guideways for the shifting signs 17. Theseguideways, which are located opposite the sight openings in the casing,and are parallel with each other, form continuous circuitsfor trunnions18, with which the ends of the signs 17 are prolel vertical stretches orparts, connected at vtheir upper and lower ends by substantiallyparallel transversestretches or parts.

Link belts or chain 20, mounted on sprocket wheels 21,v 22, 23, 24;, andguided by the flanges on the guide pla-tes A13 along the vertical partsand the upper transverse parts of the guideways, are provided on theirinner sides with lugs 26, which are directly opposite each other `andadapted by engagement with thev trunnions 18 of the signs 17, to pick upthe signs one ata time from the front ends of the lower transverse partsof the guide-ways, and transfer or shift them frein the lower sightopening upwardly,` backwardly Vand downwardly into engagement with therear ends of said lower transverse parts of the guideways, whichV arecurved upwardly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, lso as to deflect the signsforwardly out' of the path-ofthe lugs 2G.

The sprocket wheels 21, which sup-port and guide'the chains 2O at theupper ends of their runs, are journaled on pins fastened to andprojecting inwardly from the end plates 1, andl project at theirperipheries through the flanges lof said guides. The sprocket/wheels 22,around which the chains 2() are guided at the lower endsof their runs,are fixed on a shaft'28 extending longitudiggf nally thro-ugh the casingand having bearings 29 on vthe end plates 1. The sprocket wheels 28 arejournaled on studs projecting inwardly from the end plates of the casingbelow the guide pla-tes 13, in position todirect the chains 2O inclignnient with the front vertical stretches or parts of the guideways.The sprocket wheels 24 are journaled on arins 31, which are pivoted tothe end plates 1 of the casing and pressed by springs 32 toward thefront runs of the chains 20, soas to hold the sprocket wheels inyielding engagement with the chains and take up slack in the chains.

The brake shoes or bars 14 are adjustably connected by screws 84 withledges 85, projecti'ng inwardly froni the end plates 1 of the casing,and are held by springs 36 in yielding engagement with the trunnions 18of the signs as they pass rearwardly through the upper transverse partsof the guideways.

The brake shoes or bars 15 are adjustably connected by screws 38 withthe inturned marginal flanges on the rear edges of the end plates l, andare yieldingly held by springs 39 in engagement with the trunnions 18 ofthe signs as they pass downwardly through the rear vertical stretches ofthe guideways.

Leaf springs 41, fastened at their upper ends to inwardly projectingbrackets 42 on the end plates 1, are arranged as shown in Fig. 2, toengage with the upper edges of the signs 17 as they pass from the uppert'ansverse into the rear vertical stretches of the guideways, and tiltthe-in slightly forward, so that their lower edges as they descend willclear and pass behind the rear sign in the lower transverse stretches ofthe `guideways, which serve as a magazine to hold a considerable or anydesired number of signs assembled together facing the lower sightopening in the front of the casing. The lower ends of thel springs 41are curved forwardly so as to shift the signs as their trunnions arebrought into engagement with thel rear ends of the lower transverseparts of the guideways, and press and hold thein together facing thesight opening in the casing, with the front sign in position to bepicked up by the lugs 26 on the chains. The lowerrtransverse part-s ofthe guideways which constitute the magazine for the signs, arepreferably inclined slightly downward towards the sight opening, asshown in lfigs.

2 and 3, to assist in shifting the signs towards the sight opening intoposition to be picked up by the chains.

n electric inotor 44, preferably of the so-called universal type, ismounted in the lower part of the casing niidway between its endsfon asaddle 45, which is supported at its ends on the angle bars 4. A pulley4.7, en the niotor shaft, is connected by a belt with a cone" or steppedpulley 49 on a shaft 50, inounted parallel with the inotor shaft andtransversely to the shaft 28 1n a gear case or housing 5" wuch issupported on el, a the angle bars 4, shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The shaft 50 is provided with a worin 53, which nieshes with a woringear 54, fixed on the shaft 28 in the gear case 51.

The inotor shaft and the shaft 50 project at their rear ends through theback of the easing, and the pulleys 47 and 49 are located outside of thecasing, to facilitate shifting the belt for varying the speed of theniotor land thus changing the rate of travel of the chains to lengthenor shorten the interval of exposure of the signs to view.

ln order to regulate the speed of the motor and of the sign shiftingchains, particularly when a universal inotor is used, the shaft 50 isprovided with a centrifugal governor 56, which is connected by crankarins 57 and 58 on rocker shaft 59, and by a link 60 with a verticallyand longitudinally inovable bralre or drag bar 61, arranged to engagewith the upward runof one of the chains 2O between the adjacent guideplate 13 and the front of the casing. The bar 61 is forined withinclines engaging corresponding inclines 68 on the adjacent end plate 1,as shown in Fig. 3. The lower reduced end of the bar 61 passes looselythrough a lug 65 on a lever 88, which is fulcruined at one end on theadjacent end plate of the easing and is formed at the other end with anincline engaging a longitudinal lever 67, which is fulcrunied as shownin Fig. 1', at the back of the casing. A spring 69., interposed betweenthe lug 65 andan adjust-able collar T0 on the brake bar 6l, tends toshift the bar upwardly and thus reduce its pressure against the chain20, with which it engages. it the end opposite-that which engages withthe lever 66, the lever 6,7 is bent outwardly, passing through a slot inthe back of the casing, and is provided with a vertically elongatedopening through which the pulley belt passes, as shown in Fig. 2. Theoutwardly bent end of the lever 67 is forined with a series of notches81, which correspond in spacing with the steps of the cone pulley 49,and are adapted by engagement with the baci: of the casing at the upperend of the slot therein, to lock and hold saidY lever in adjustedposition corresponding with the desired speed of the motor and of theshifting signs.

The glass plate or pane. 11 through which the shiftingV signs areexposed to view, corresponr s in thickness with the signs, and for-nisat its upper edge a ledge for supporting` a stationary sign in positionfor exposure to view tln'engh the upper sight opening, the back of thestationary sign being in the saine plane with the inner face of theglass plate or pane 11, thus providing a continuous plane surface forguiding the shifting signs and holding them in a vertical position asthey are shifted upwardly from the sight opening.

The trunnions 18 are located above the longitudinal centers of thesigns, so that the signs suspended thereby from the guide" ways, tend tomaintain a vertical position during the passage of the trunnionstherethrough.

T he signs, which may be made of any suitable material, preferablyconsist as shown, of sheet metal holders folded around the edges toengage with and hold sheets 85, of cardboard or other material, on whichthe advertising or other matter to be displayed, is printed or otherwiseshown. These sheets to which the matter to be displayed is applied, thuscan be easily removed and replaced by sheets with other matter thereon.Spaces are left between the adjacent ends of the brake shoes or bars laand 15, to permit the trunnions 18 to be lifted from the guideways, sothat the signs can be readily removed and replaced for changing thematter thereon or for any other purpose, the top section 5 of the casingbeing removable to afford access to the signs.

For illuminating both the shifting and stationary signs at night, or indark places, the machine is provided in the forward exV tension of thebase with removable cages S7 having sockets and connections for electriclamps or bulbs 8S. These cages, which also serve as reflectors, are openat the top and are supported in operative position by engagement withthe front angle bar 4 and with downwardly projecting flanges 90, whichmay be integral with or attached to the top of the front section 7 ofthe casing. The top wall of the base extension formed by the casingsection 7, is provided with glazed openings 92, through which the lightrays from the lamps 88 are projected and reflected upwardly against themovable sign 17 exposed to view through the lower sight opening andagainst the stationary sign 83, exposed to view through the upper sightopening of the casing.

rlhe sheet metal casing section 7 is extended inwardly, and upwardlyflanged as shown in F ig. 2, to support the lower edges of the glass ortransparent panes or plates 10 and ll.

.ln the operation of the machine, the brake shoes or bars 14 and 15 areadjusted to bear with sufi'cient pressure on the sign trunnions 15during their passage rearwardly and downwardly through the guideways, toequalthe load on the motor, prevent the signs from falling away from andout of engagement with the lugs 26 on the chains in their downwardpassage through the rear vertical stretches of the guideways, and obtaina steady uniform movement of the signs throughout their upward7 rearwardand downward passage through the guideways from the sight opening in thefront of the casing to the rear ends of the lower transverse stretchesof the guideways forming the Y magazine.

vWith each complete circuit of the chains 20, which are driven in unisonby the sprocket wheels 22 on the shaft 28, the lugs 26 in their upwardvpassage engaging the trunnions 18 of the front sign 174 in themagazine, shift the sign upward from the lower sight opening in thecasing, then backward and then downward, till the trunnions engagingwith the upwardly curved rear ends of the plates 16 are deflected intothe lower transverse storage part-s of the guideways, and the sign ispressed forward by the springs l1 against the rear sign of the seriesfacing the sight opening. As the front sign is withdrawn upward from theseries as above stated, the signs behind .it are moved forward by thesprings 41, aided by the downward inclination of the lower parts of theguideways, and the next sign isv brought into place opposite the sightopening. Any fluctuation inthe speed of the motor and hence in themovement of the signs, which may not be remedied by the brake shoes orbars 14 and 15 owing to lack of proper adjustment or otherwise, is takencare of by the governor 56. ln case of an increase above normal speed,the governor tends to shift the brake bar 61 downward, causing theineline 63 to increase its pressure against the adjoining chain 20,thereby checking the speed of the motor by increasing the load thereon.On the other hand, in oase of a decrease below normal speed, the ballsof the governor are dra-wn toward each other by the spring connectingthem, thus permitting the spring 69 to force the brake bar 61 slightlyupward, and reducing its pressure against the adjoining chain, so thatthe motor and the chains will resume their normal speed.

As the chains 2O are carried by the sprocket wheels 22 a considerabledistance below the guideways in which the signs are held and travel, thesigns will be exposed to View one after another for intervals of timecorresponding with the time required for the lugs 26 to make a completecircuit, so that the length of exposure of the signs may be varied byvarying the speed of the motor, and hence of the chains. This isaccomplished by shifting thebelt which connects the motor pulley 47 withthe cone pulley 49. Shifting the belt from a larger to a smaller part ofthe cone pulley, increases the speed of the chains, and the time ofexposure of the signs is correspondingly shortened. To shift the beltfrom a larger to a smaller part of the pulley, the outwardly bent end ofthe lever (37 is first pressed down out of engagement with the backsectionrt of the casand then pulled backward the required to carry thebelt upon the desired step or part of the cone pulley, and is thenreleased so that the proper notch 8l will engage with said back sectionand loci; the lever in place. vWith a shifting the belt to smaller partsof the pulley 49 to increase the speed oi. the motor as above explained,the opposite end of the lever 6T engaging: 'the incline on the rear endot the lever 6G, slightly elevates the lug,` (i5, thereby increas ing,`the tension of the spring; 69, which tends to thrust the dragl bar (ilupward and reduce its pressure against the adjoining chain Qt). inincrease in thc speed ot the motor and sign shifting chains is thuspermitted.

ln like manner, to reduce the speed of the motor and chains and thusincrease the time ot'exposure of tl c signs, the not l end ol the lever67 is moved forward into the case, carrying' the belt with it, intoengagement with a larger part o? the cone pulley Ll). lVith this movunent ot the lever the lever W with the lugv 65, is slightly lowered,re-

ing, distance 'I0 ducing the tension on the spring 69 and its resistanceto the action ot the governor, which operates to draw the brake bar nldownward on the inclines 33 and increase its pressure against theadjoining chain 2t, thereby increasingv the load anc causing the motorto run at a slower speed. Without this provision i`or adjusting thetension ol the spring,` (S9 for dill'erent speeds, aero:'-ding` to theposition of the belt on the cone pulley #29, an increase in speed of themotor acting` through the governo-r would be counteracted by the actionof the brake bar (3l. Conversely, a decrease in the speed oi the motorwould be prevented by the compensating action o'l said brake bar.

The stationary sign 823 may consist, as shown-in Fig. 2, ol a holderfrom which the trunnions are omitted, and in which sheets 85, ofcardboard or other material bearing the advertising' or other matteritor display, are inserted, so that such matter can be easily changedfrom time to time as desired.

The electric light cages Si are easily removed for renewing` the lamps8S, by shil't ing the cages towards the ends ot the casing; out ofengagement with the flanges 90, then shifting' them backward out otlengagement with the liront angle bar 4C, when they can be withdrawnthrough the open bottoni oi the casing.

Various changes in the details of construction and arrangement oit partsof the machine may be made without materially affecting' its mode of'operation and without departure from the principle and scope ot theinvention as detined in the followingv claims.

l claim:

l. ln a shifting-sign machine, the combination of a casing having asight opening` in one side and having its interior at its ends providedwith aligned guides tor determiningv closed 'paths ot movement tor signguid-y ing,` and supportingv trunnions, disconnected signs provided attheir ends with sign guid ingand supporting), trunnions, flexible means`confined to travel only in part in correspondence with said closed pathsot movement and adapted to engage said trunnions so as to positivelymove a sign througn a predetermined part only of its entirepredetermined closed path of movement, motor mechanisi' for actnat-ing1said tlexible means, and means to tilt said signs to 'preventinterference ot one sign with another sign.

2. ln a shifting-sign machine the combination of a casing` having asight opening` in the front side and provided at the ends with parallelguideways the lower parts oi" which are transverse to the ends o'l' thecasing' adjacent the sight opening, signs provided at the ends withtrunnions adapted to traverse the guideways, chains guided in the casingalong;` and below the guideways and provided with lugs adapted totraverse the guideways and by engagement with 'the trunnions to shiftthe signs one at a time from the sight opening upward, backward anddownward into engagement with the rear ends ot said lower transverseparts ot the guideways, a motor for actuating the chains, and a brakeactin?,` on the downwardly movingsigns as they traverse the descendingrear parts of the guideways to hold the signs against falling away fromthe lugs on the chains and to equalize the load on the motor.

3. ln a shitting-sign machine the combination ot a casing having a sightopening; in front and provided at the ends with parallel guideways thelower parts of which arc transverse to the ends of the casing adjacentthe sight opening, signs provided at the ends with trunnions adapted totraverse the guideways,

chains guided in the casing,` and provided with lugs arranged totraverf-ae the guideways and by engagement with the trunnions to shiftthe signs one after another trom the sight opening` upward, baci; wardand downward into engagement with the rear ends of said lower transverseparte of the guideways, a motor for actuating the chains in unison, andbrakes acting on the sign trunnions as they traverse the reardescending` parts of the guideways, to equaliZe the load on the motorand to"y prevent the trunnionsin their descent from falling;` away tromthe lugs on the chains.

1l. ln a shitting-sign machine the combiv nation of a casing having a"front sight opening` and provided at the ends with parallel guideways'the upper and lower parts of which are transverse to the encs ci thecasing, signs provided at the ends with trunnions adapted to traversethe guidelll) liu

lilo

ways, chains guided in the casing along and below the guideways andprovided with lugs adapted to traverse the guideways and by engagementwith the trunnions to shift the signs one after another from the sightopening upward, backward and downward into engagement with the rear endsof the lower transverse parts of the guideways, a motor for actuatingthe chains in unison, and brakes arranged to act on the sign trunnionsas they traverse the upper transverse parts of the guideways inengagement with the lugs on the chains for equalizing the load on themotor.

5. In a shifting-sign machine the combination of a casing having vasight opening and endless parallel guideways parts of which are adaptedto support a number of signs assembled one behind another facing saidopening, signs provided at the ends with trunnions adapted to traversethe guideways, chains guided in the casing along and below the guidewaysand provided with lugs adapted by engagement with the trunnions to shiftthe signs one after another from the sight opening upward, backward anddownward to a position behind the assembled signs, a motor for actuatingthe chains, and brakes engaging the sign trunnions as they traverse theupper transverse and rear vertical parts of the guideways.

6. In a shifting-sign machine the combination of a casing having a sightopening and endless parallel guideways parts of which are adapted tosupport a number of signs assembled one behind another facing saidopening, signs provided at the ends with trunnions adapted to traversethe guideways, chains guided in the casing along the front, upper andrear parts of the guideways and below the lower parts thereof andprovided with lugs adapted by engagement with the trunnions to shift thesigns one after another from the front to the rear ends of the parts ofthe guideways supporting the assembled signs, a motor for actuating thechains, and adjustable yielding brakes engaging the sign trunnions asthey traverse the rear vertical parts of the guideways.

7. In a shifting-sign machine the combination of a casing having a sightopening and endless parallel guideways parts of which are adapted tosupport a number of signs assembled one behind another facing saidopening, signs provided at the ends with trunnions adapted to traversethe guideways, chains guided in the casing and provided with lugsadapted by engagement with the trunnions to shift the signs one afteranother from the front to the rear of the assembled signs, a motor foractuating the chains in unison, an adjustable brake acting on one of thechains, and a centrifir gal governor connected with the brake forregulating the speed of the motor and chains. f

8. In a shifting-sign machine the combination of a casing having a sightopening and endless parallel gnideways parts of which constitute amagazine adapted to support a: number of signs assembled one behindanother facing said opening, signs provided at the ends with trunnionsadapted to traverse the guideways, chains provided with lugs adapted byengagement with the trunnions to shift the signs one after another atintervals from the front to the rear of the magazine, a motor fordriving the chains in unison, an adjustable brake engaging one of thechains, a spring tending to release the brake, a centrifugal gov ernordriven 'by the motor and connected with the brake, a change speedtransmission between the motor and chains, and a connection between thechange speed transmission and the spring adapted to increase the tensionof the spring when the change speed transmission is adjusted to increasethe speed of the chains.

9. In a shifting-sign machine the combination of a casing having a sightopening, parallel vertical flanges and endless parallel guideways at theends of the opening, the lower parts of the guideways constituting amagazine adapted to support a number 0f signs assembled one behindanother facing said opening and the inner vertical flanges forming partsof the front vertical runs of the guideways, signs provided at the endswith trunnions adapted to traverse the guideways, chains guided 1n thecasing and provided with lugsA adapted by engagement l with thetrunnions tovshift the signs one after another from the front to therear of lthe magazine, a motor for driving the chains in unison, atransparent plate held at the ends between said vertical flanges in thelower part of the sight opening opposite the front sign in the magazine,and a stationary sign held at the ends between said flanges in the upperpart of the sight opening and resting on the upper edge of saidtransparent Vplate with which it forms a continuous guiding surface forthe shifting signs in their upward movement from the magazine.

l0. In a shifting-sign machine thecombination of a casing having a sightopening and a forwardly extending base having an opening in the topbelow the sight opening, a number of movable signs, mechanism forshifting said signs at intervals one after another into and out of viewthrough the sight opening, and a lamp in the base eX- tension arrangedto project light upwardly through said openings upon the sign eX- posedto view through the sight opening.

1.1t In a shifting-sign machine the com bination of afc'asing having afront sight opening and a forwardly extending base having an opening inthe top below vthe sight opening, a number of movable Signs, mechanismfor shifting'` the signs at intervals one after another Vinto and out ofView through the sight opening, an open top lamp cage removably mountedinthe base eXtension andi providedwith" an'electro lamp arranged toproject light upwardly through Said openings upon the sign exposed toView through the sight opening.

1n Witness whereof I hereto affix my Signature.

' ULRICH ANDERSON.

